Multiple User Names and Personalties? (computers, scan, online, issue)

[BovinaCowHateWindTurbines]

I spend (cough too much) a little time here and I have noticed what seems like a subtle form of spamming, which is for people to create multiple personalties and have conversations with themselves. And even rep back and forth?

I know this is not new to the web 2.0 world and might be guilty of this myself during the height of my wind turbine battles... not here though all truth and reality. The moderators are so good here and I don't believe they restrict by IP, but I assume they must know when multiple user names are being used to get a point across - to be nice...

Thoughts?

[jhlcomp]

I don't know if this is the right forum for your question, but you are quite right in your assessment. I have seen users come and go and within a scant amount of time rack up hundreds of rep points. What the heck is that?

You mentioned that they even respond to themselves -- scary thought, huh? But, you are so right.

[BovinaCowHateWindTurbines]

Well I thought Tech because it is daily thing dealing with various forms of spam and the consequences of responding which people do. There are posts that the Mods delete every day or cut with and various not so subtle spam. It is so obvious at times as times that I can read a few sentences and say spam or self promoting language or a real post.

[BrianH]

Well.

You know when you walk down the street and you see people mumbling to themselves and having conversation with themselves, even argueing with themselves ...

Well

They just got computers

[Steel Man]

Originally Posted by BovinaCowHateWindTurbines

I spend (cough too much) a little time here and I have noticed what seems like a subtle form of spamming, which is for people to create multiple personalties and have conversations with themselves. And even rep back and forth?

I know this is not new to the web 2.0 world and might be guilty of this myself during the height of my wind turbine battles... not here though all truth and reality. The moderators are so good here and I don't believe they restrict by IP, but I assume they must know when multiple user names are being used to get a point across - to be nice...

Thoughts?

The mods here investigate multiple IP address personalities and will restrict them. Depending upon the seriousness of the offense, the person could get banned.

[Yac]

We have various ways to detect multiple accounts and deal with them swiftly.Yac.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by Yac

We have various ways to detect multiple accounts and deal with them swiftly.Yac.

Well the Florida forum has got someone who is on his third (or 4th?) username.
He or she is baiting Austintraveler.

[Squidlo]

I've wondered about just that. Would some person actually use different accounts to rep themselves or possibly even snipe at people who disagree with them on an issue in a thread. Restricting by IP isn't enough to stop it really. Dial-up ISP's have dynamic IP, and for a broadband user a trip to the library would do the job for ones self serving alter-ego. I have seen what I think may be this type of behavior. It amuses me more than it alarms me. Perhaps its not enough just to dominate a section of the forum. Spawning multiple adoring minions to massage ones own ego? Time to go play outside I think.



Squidlo

[mbuszu]

Originally Posted by Squidlo

I've wondered about just that. Would some person actually use different accounts to rep themselves or possibly even snipe at people who disagree with them on an issue in a thread. Restricting by IP isn't enough to stop it really. Dial-up ISP's have dynamic IP, and for a broadband user a trip to the library would do the job for ones self serving alter-ego. I have seen what I think may be this type of behavior. It amuses me more than it alarms me. Perhaps its not enough just to dominate a section of the forum. Spawning multiple adoring minions to massage ones own ego? Time to go play outside I think.
Squidlo

For a while I could have sworn I was seeing this in the political forum but then it occurred to me that there are plenty of ignorant or agenda-ridden people posting online these days.

It makes me feel good to know that the moderators have the tech tools available to take care of this issue (I am looking for to when they can take care of the ignorant posters too!).

[BovinaCowHateWindTurbines]

Originally Posted by Yac

We have various ways to detect multiple accounts and deal with them swiftly.Yac.

O I'm sure you do and many respects I was an admin at a small forum a while back and I am sure you have better weapons. It just seemed recently a more subtle type was popping up on the NY forum recently. Someone puts up what seems pretty spammie and then someone responds concurring with the OP and then the thread has some legs. And I am like wha - then people chime in and it seems to then be a real thread after that. Maybe I read too many posts lol....

Thanks!